I spent another great weekend at Hook Pottery Paper to help with some keepsakes for this year’s Friends of Dard Hunter Conference. I arrived Friday to some fantastic summer weather on the farm and right away set to help prep some of the fiber that would be used that weekend, but not before I admired the goat cheese being made in the kitchen.

The portion of the keepsakes that I was helping with are going to be envelopes that will hold other items. The envelopes will be charcoal in color with the round flaps folded to the center. When opened, there is the surprise of a white checkered pattern, just the kind of pop that makes a keepsake worth keeping. Also, added to the envelope will be a really attractive marigold yellow piece of paper made of sisal and cotton fiber, which will then be letterpress printed. These will be stunning when finished. Below is a series of images taken during the sheet making process. Notice that the deckle was modified with foam to create the envelope shape needed. The extra squares are not a part of the project but just a smart way to utilize the extra space on the screen.

forming a sheet

deckle removed

couched onto pelon

fine white pulp sprayed through a stencil

removing the stencil

stenciled sheet and two spare squares ready for pressing

I wasn’t able to stay long enough to finish the entire run, but I was informed that they were finished later in the day I left. It is exciting to be a part of such a well made, well designed, and thoroughly considered project.

In the time that I wasn’t helping make paper, I was able to enjoy the events going on around the farm. This weekend was the kickoff to an open farm and studio week at Hook Pottery Paper. Friday night was a wine and goat cheese opening featuring ceramics, prints, drawings, and paintings. It was a great chance to also see the work of artist in residence George Liebert, an artist and educator, who taught an all ages water color class on Saturday and will teach a paintings at dusk workshop this Wednesday. Everyone who participated was eager to have another opportunity to learn with him.

Saturday evening everyone around was treated to fresh baked pizza cooked in a brick oven outside. It couldn’t get better.